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Friday 10 November 2006

AM is Australia's most informative morning current affairs. It covers the stories each morning that the other current affairs teams follow for the rest of the day. Below is the program summary with links to transcripts and audio (if available).

US Democrats win control of both Houses of Congress

In the United States, the Democrats have made a clean sweep of the US Congress by seizing control of the Senate. Two days after the mid-term elections, the Republicans have conceded defeat in the bitterly contested Senate race in Virginia. The Democrats' victory will give the party control of both houses of Congress and a power base from which to take on the Republican White House.

America's allies feel shockwaves from political shake-up

The political changes in the United States are creating waves in Britain. Officially Tony Blair's Government is saying it expects no change of strategy in the way the war in Iraq is being fought. But one of Britain's most important voices on defence is hoping that Washington will start listening more to the concerns of its number one ally.

Women MPs call for action on cervical cancer vaccine

When the political women of Canberra band together they're a formidable force, and the Prime Minister and his Health Minister are feeling the heat. The women, from all parties want the men to have a long hard think about the use of a cervical cancer vaccine. John Howard and Tony Abbott have indicated it's not a case of if but when the Government will make the vaccine freely available to two million young Australian women.

Survey finds kids raised on junk food

Any parent can testify that sometimes you need to give a toddler a treat, if for no other reason but for your sanity. But an Australian survey, the first of its kind, has shown that foods usually regarded as 'treats' make up a quarter of a toddler's daily food intake, foods like hot chips, chocolate and sweetened drinks. The study analysed the eating habits of more than 400 toddlers, to look at how they made the transition from milk to solid foods.

Man loses bid for compensation in paternity suit

One way or another, the High Court delves into just about every facet of Australian life, but it's not keen to get involved with infidelity. Victorian Liam Magill had sought compensation after claiming his former wife tricked him into paying maintenance for children who weren't his. But the High Court's dismissal of his "paternity fraud" case, citing there was no duty to disclose infidelity has angered some parents' advocacy groups.

Students turn to sex industry work to pay for degrees

Some international students in Australia are being forced to work in the sex industry to pay for their expensive degrees. The Students' Union says the women end up in the sex industry because their visa restricts them to working just twenty hours a week during any one semester and they need high paying jobs to survive.

Qld Govt wants sex offender to stay behind bars

The first prisoner kept behind bars indefinitely under Queensland's controversial Dangerous Prisoners Act may be released from jail today. Convicted for violent sex offences, Robert John Fardon has spent 30 years behind bars. While the Supreme Court in Queensland believes he's served his time, the State Government disagrees.

Westpac warns inflationary pressures rising

One of Australia's biggest banks is predicting the Reserve will raise interest rates again February. Westpac warns inflationary pressures are building. Its forecast isn't good for the Federal Government as it prepares to contest an election expected late next year.